Mirror image questions

[kerbarian]

What happens if a character is under the effects of both mirror image and blink? Do the images appear to blink along with the caster? Do they actually go ethereal, so that attacks against them would suffer the 50% miss chance for blinking?

Also, do you have to move after casting mirror image before people lose track of which one is really you? For example, if you tumble away from a threatening opponent and then cast mirror image (and thus can't move after casting), is everyone able to target you normally until you move on your next turn? The reason I ask is that the spell says "You can move into and through a mirror image. When you and the mirror image separate, observers can’t use vision or hearing to tell which one is you and which the image." That implies that movement after casting is necessary to mix things up. However, it also says "The figments may also move through each other." Perhaps the movement of the figments upon casting is sufficient to create the confusion?

 

[MarkB]

What happens if a character is under the effects of both mirror image and blink? Do the images appear to blink along with the caster? Do they actually go ethereal, so that attacks against them would suffer the 50% miss chance for blinking?

Since the spell effect is attached to the caster, I think they'd have to go ethereal when he does.

Also, do you have to move after casting mirror image before people lose track of which one is really you? For example, if you tumble away from a threatening opponent and then cast mirror image (and thus can't move after casting), is everyone able to target you normally until you move on your next turn? The reason I ask is that the spell says "You can move into and through a mirror image. When you and the mirror image separate, observers can’t use vision or hearing to tell which one is you and which the image." That implies that movement after casting is necessary to mix things up. However, it also says "The figments may also move through each other." Perhaps the movement of the figments upon casting is sufficient to create the confusion?

As I understand it, the figments only move when you do, but when you move, they move in such a way as to cause viewers to lose track of which one goes where. There's this line:

"While moving, you can merge with and split off from figments so that enemies who have learned which image is real are again confounded."​

Which I believe indicates that once an opponent has established which image is real, the only way to confound them again is to move. I'd say any form of movement, even a 5-foot-step, is sufficient to confound opponents.

This came up in game a few days ago. My archer was attacking a Vrock, and his first attack struck home. His second attack was a critical hit, but the DM ruled that it hit an image, and I accepted that until another player pointed out that my first hit should have let me know which image was real. The DM accepted that interpretation after we pointed out the above passage to him.

 

[kerbarian]

As I understand it, the figments only move when you do, but when you move, they move in such a way as to cause viewers to lose track of which one goes where. There's this line:

"While moving, you can merge with and split off from figments so that enemies who have learned which image is real are again confounded."​

Which I believe indicates that once an opponent has established which image is real, the only way to confound them again is to move. I'd say any form of movement, even a 5-foot-step, is sufficient to confound opponents.

I agree that it's pretty clear about what happens once someone identifies the caster from among the images (the caster stays identified until he moves). What I'm not sure about is whether you get a free mixing-up of the images upon casting, or do you actually have to move immediately after casting in order to be lost among the images.

This is particularly important for greater mirror image from PHBII. It's basically an immediate-action version of mirror image. But if you have to move before there's any confusion about the target, it's much less effective. You could cast the spell when it's not your turn, but it wouldn't have any benefit until you get around to your turn again and can move.

 

[Iku Rex]

You may want to check out the Official FAQ entries on mirror image.

 

[Question]

Considering you move around all the time even when not taking a 5 ft step or moving more than 5 ft, i would say you dont need to actually MOVE ingame to get people confused.......the old mirror image in 2E had descriptions that said people couldnt tell you apart right after you cast the spell either, and i see no reason why that doesnt hold true in 3E.

 

[kerbarian]

You may want to check out the Official FAQ entries on mirror image.

Ah, yes. Should have checked that first. The FAQ directly answers the blinking question (the figments do go ethereal), but it doesn't seem to address whether you need to move after casting in order to disguise yourself among the images.

 

[MarkB]

Ah, yes. Should have checked that first. The FAQ directly answers the blinking question (the figments do go ethereal), but it doesn't seem to address whether you need to move after casting in order to disguise yourself among the images.

I think you can assume that the initial spreading out of the images upon casting obscures which one is you. It's only whether you need to move once an opponent has identified which of you is real that's in question. I tend to think the answer is "yes", and that's a deliberate limitation, but it's not made 100% clear.